One of CUS' largest ongoing projects is the evaluation of organizations requesting funding from the City of Detroit's Community Development Block Grant/Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (CBDG/NOF).

These evaluations enable the City of Detroit to make informed decisions on how to apportion the approximately $50 million it receives each year from the federal government to provide services to its citizens. Ten to fifteen million dollars is allocated to local organizations providing services ranging from youth tutoring, to homelessness services to home repair assistance. The CUS evaluation team uses site visits and surveys to produce about 250 reports each year.

In addition to these reports, CUS conducts various research projects related to CDBG-funded programs. Such projects have included an analysis of the City of Detroit's Minor Home Repair program, the handling of lead hazards in housing, and a community development needs assessment.

Future plans for this unit include creation of a CBDG website to complement the new web-based data collection system.

Contact:
Maureen Watson
(313) 577-8994
au1872@wayne.edu